A LJ45 flight crew lost directional control on the takeoff roll on a snow covered runway and exited the runway with minimal damage and no injuries.
Synopsis
A LJ45 flight crew lost directional control on the takeoff roll on a snow covered runway and exited the runway with minimal damage and no injuries.
Narrative
We arrived at ZZZ to pick up additional passengers enroute to our final destination. We encountered no ice or braking action problems on the landing rollout. We took on fuel; picked up six passengers for a total of eight; restarted engines and taxied to the deicing spot. After deicing; we performed a tactile wing inspection; got our clearance and ran the before takeoff checks. We then announced on CTAF that we were departing the runway. I applied takeoff power to both engines while the pilot not flying called out airspeeds and engine parameters. At approximately 1;000 FT from the end of the runway we hit a patch of ice under the snow. I felt the right main gear begin to skid and the aircraft veer to the right. I applied left rudder pressure to correct the drift but we continued to skid. The pilot not flying called the drift and yelled 'go left; go left' but the aircraft wasn't responding to my inputs. We exited the runway surface and continued approximately 200 FT before coming to a stop in the snow and mud. We shut down both engines and asked the passengers if they were OK; to which they replied that everyone was uninjured. We told them to sit tight while we examined the aircraft for damage and possible fire hazards. After determining that there was no risk of fire we deplaned the passengers. Now; I think that pilots shouldn't take off in similar conditions without first having the runway plowed and a braking action report issued.
Second reporter narrative
The runway was covered with loose snow when we landed. My First Officer (pilot-flying) said that he did not experience any reduction in braking effectiveness. [After the runway excursion] there didn't appear to be any cause for evacuating the aircraft; but I opened the front emergency exit and exited the aircraft to inspect the outside of the aircraft. The aircraft was sitting approximately 20 FT from the right side of the runway pointed at a magnetic heading of 320 (30 degrees to the left of runway heading 350).Remarkably; the aircraft exited the right side of the runway without hitting any runway lighting and there did not appear to be much damage; as it sat relatively level on the frozen dirt beneath the snow. As we could tell at the time; only the right-hand taxi light was cracked and right-hand landing and recognition light cover was shattered.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.